Now that you have gotten to know Lorenzo and myself a little better, I wanted to take a
moment or two to direct you to the beginnings of a pathway through the coffee lands. I
would like to begin in my beloved Colombia and with an author who has helped to
develop my understanding a little further of what female farmers face in Colombia. Her
name is Lucia Bawot. She hails from a heritage of coffee farming and powerful female
examples. I use powerful, because strong is not quite enough. We can be strong in the
face of difficulties, this does not mean, however, that we always have the ability to be
efficacious...which is what power defines. The 25 women we find in the breadth of her
writing, are powerful in the face of their life journeys. They have overcome many
obstacles, built families, maintained livelihoods, walked through great loss, to feel the
sun on their faces once more, light shining even in the midst of rain and darkness. They
are powerful. They did not remain in defeat.
Lucia is an amazing woman herself, with an amazing story. A photographer and
filmmaker, she grew into a writer she didn’t think she was in order to represent the
women whose lives ran parallel to those of her Grandmother’s. She has worked in
sustainability and other sectors of the coffee industry. She is passionate about people,
women, and mental health within the coffee world. This is what drew us into introduction
to one another. I could not be happier to introduce her to you and her work. Please pop
over to her page and read further about this award-winning author at
In times to come, we will begin to examine the lives, mental health, and sustainability
factors impacting female coffee producers.
Gracias por acompañarnos en El Camino...thank you for joining us on the journey!
Ronda
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